Retractable toothbrush with rotary lock



April 28, 1959 PI. KAYE ET AL 2,883,692

RETRACTABLE TOOTHBRUSH WITH ROTARY LOCK Filed July 11, 1957 F 1 VM /6 584 a0 20 42 /Z /0 /e 2 Hg. 3

INVENTORS Philip Ka e BY Edward E. a'i'e RETRACTABLE rooggggosn wrrnROTARY Philip Kaye, Norridge, and Edward E. Tate, Chicago, Ill.,

. assignors to Lester R. Peilet, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 11, 1957, Serial No. 671,205

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-184) This invention relates to brushes, particularlytooth brushes or the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedtoothbrush which is retractable, so that it may be carried veryconveniently in a pocket, purse, handbag or the like.

A further object is to provide a new and improved retractable toothbrushwhich is highly serviceable for its intended use of brushing teeth.

Another object is to provide a new and improved retractable toothbrushwhich locks securely in its extended position.

A further object is to provide a retractable toothbrush which also hasmeans to retain the brush in its retracted position.

It is another object to provide a retractable toothbrush in which thebristles are positioned very conveniently, for an easy and comfortablebrushing action, when the brush isextended.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved retractabletoothbrush which is compact and attractive in appearance, yet isreasonably simple in construction and extremely low in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present inven tion will appearfrom the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a retractable toothbrush tobe described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, theview being taken along the axis of the brush with the brush extended.

. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the brush retracted.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the brush with the brush retracted.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken generally along a line 4-4in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a telescopically movable bar or handlemember embodied in the brush.

Figs. 6 and 7 are top and bottom plan views showing opposite sides ofthe bar of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken generally along a line8--8 in Fig. 6.

As already indicated, the drawings illustrate a brush 10 which isretractable between the extended position of Fig. 1 and the retractedposition of Fig. 2. The brush 10 is intended primarily for use as atoothbrush, but, of course, it may be employed for any other suitablepurpose, with or without modifications to adapt the brush for-otheruses. It will be apparent that the brush is extremely compact when it isretracted, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it may be carried veryconveniently in a pocket, purse, handbag or the like. When the brush isextended, as shown in Fig. l, it'is fully and conveniently serviceablefor brushing teeth.

Generally, the illustrated toothbrush 10 comprises a plurality ofsuitable bristles 12 mounted on a handle 14 having two parts or members16 and 18 which are engagedfor telescopingmovement between the extended2,883,692 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 and retracted positions of the brush.member 16 is formed with a longitudinal bore or opening 20 which isadapted to receive the secondhandle member 18. It will be seen that thesecond handle member 18 takes the form of a bar which is generallycylindrical in shape, for reception in the bore 20. The bar 18 has anouter end portion 22, on which the bristles 12 are mounted, and an innerend portion 24 which is substantially cylindrical in shape. portion 22is offset laterally with respect to the inner portion 24. Thus, theouter portion 22 has a substantially fiat longitudinal surface 26 whichis set in from the corresponding side of the inner portion 24. Thebristles 12 project laterally from the flat surface 26. On its op positeside, the outer portion 22 has a cylindrically curved surface 28 whichconstitutes an extension of the cylindrical outer surface on the innerportion 24.

In this case, the hollow handle or grip member 16 is' generallyrectangular in cross section. The bore 20 is offset laterally in onedirection from the axis of the mem ber 16. To receive the bristles 12,the member 16 is formed with a recess or cavity 30 which extendslaterally from one end of the bore 20 in a direction opposite from thedirection in which the bore is offset. The recess 30 is of a shape andsize corresponding closely to the contour or bulk of the bristles 12. Inthis case, the recess 30 is generally rectangular in shape.

When the brush 10 is retracted, the bar 18 is received almost entirelywithin thebore 20, while the bristles 12 are housed within the recess30. The bar 18 has aj rounded end portion 32, at its base or inner end,which projects slightly out of the bore 20, when the brush is teeth. Thebristles extend beyond the contour of the grip member 16 so that thebrush may be employed with-. out any substantial possibility that thegrip member 16 will strike the teeth or lips of the user.

In order to guide the extension and retraction of the brush 10, one ofthe handle members is formed with a track which is engaged by a followerelement on the other handle member. In this case, the track takes theform of a groove 34 on the bar 18. It will be seen thatthe groove 34 hasa longitudinal portion 36 and a circumferential portion 38. Thelongitudinal portion 36 extends along the entire outer portion 22 of thebar 18,

at a point thereon generally opposite from the bristles 12. The innerend of the longitudinal groove portion 36 communicates with one end ofthe circumferential:

portion 38. It will be seen that the circumferential portion 38 extendspart way around the inner portion 24 of the bar 18. More specifically,the circumferential groove portion 38 extends approximately half way'around the cylindrical portion 24. The circumferential groove portion38 has a closed end 40 on the opposite In the illustrated brush 10, thegroove 34 is followed by a generally circular key or follower 42, whichprojects into the bore 20 at a point opposite from the recess 30.

When the brush 10 is retracted, the projection 42 is en-' 3 gaged withthe keyway or groove element 36 at a point opposite from the bristles12, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that the engagement betweenthe projection Thus, the handle In effect, the outer,

In this way, the bristles are conveniently position for use in brushingside of the bar 18 'from the longitudinal groove portion I and h g n l go e por ion 296. insures, that the bristles 12 will be properly alignedfor reception in the cavity 30. The passage of the bristles 12 into thecavity 30 may be facilitated by forming chamfers or bevels 44 on thehandle member 16, at the entrance to the cavity 30. It will be apparentfrom Figs. 14; that the. hevels 44 flare from the entrance end of thecavity or recess 3%}, and are adapted to align the bristles with thecavity. Moreover, the bevels will compress the bristles for easyentrance into the cavity if the bristles have been spread or flared byuse. Thus, the bristles are restored to their original contour wheneverthe bristles are retracted into the cavity.

A catch or detent 46 is provided to detain the brush 1 0, in itsretracted position, so as to prevent accidental extension of the brush.In this case, the catch 46 simply takestheforrn of a projectionextending a small distance intothe, bore 20 adjacent the inner end ofthe hollow grip member 16. The catch 46 is engageable with thecircumferential groove portion 38 when the bar- 18 is fully retracted.

The brush is extended by sliding the bar 18 longitudinally out of thebore 20. The initial extending move ment may be brought about by pushinginwardly on theprojecting end portion 32 of the bar 18, until theouterportion 22 of the bar may be grasped and pulled out of the bore 20.

The brush 10 is locked in its extended position byrotating the bar 18through approximately a half turn. During such retention of the bar 18,the projection 42; travels along the circumferential groove portion 38,until the projection arrives at the closed end 40 of the groove 38;. Asecond catch 48 is provided to detain thQPIQjec tion 42 in the closedend portion 40 of the groove portion 38. In this case, the catch 48takes the form of a thin; spring member, made of metal orother suitableresilient, material, which projects slightly into the groove 38,adjacent the end thereof. The illustrated catch 48 is tapered in shape.and is seated in a tapered socket or slot 50 Whichis formed in the bar18 adjacent the groove 38, The catch 48 and the socket 50 are taperedtowardthe groove 38 to prevent the catch from falling into the groove.The depth of the socket 50 is somewhat-greater: than the thickness ofthe catch 48, so that the catch may springupwardly to permit theprojection 42 to pass: thecatch and enter the closed end 40 of thegroove 38.

When the brush 10 is extended, the bristles 12 project in a directioncorresponding to the lateral direction in which the bore is offset fromthe axis of the handle,

member 16. Thus, the bristles 12 are in anoffset position for convenientuse in brushing teeth. It will be; seen from Fig. 1 that the bristlesproject well beyond-the; contour of the hollow handle member 16, sovthat there will be no substantial possibility that the member 16 willstrike the teeth or lips of the user.

When the brush 10 is retracted, the bristles 12 extend; in the oppositelateral direction, so that they may be housed compactly in the recess30. It will be apparent The telescopically engageable handlemembers;.-mayreadily be molded from suitable plastics, such as nylon,polystyrene or the like. Thus, the brush member maybe easilymanufactured at extremely low cost.

Various modifications, alternative constructions andequivalents may beemployed without depriving from; the true spirit and scope oftheinventio-n, as exemplified in the, foregoing description and definedin the, following;

claims,

It will be apparent that the- We claim;

1. In a retractable toothbrush, the combination comprising a bar havinga generally cylindrical inner portion and an outer portion oifsetlaterally from said inner portion, said outer portion having a pluralityof bristles projecting laterally therefrom in a direction opposite tothe direction in which said outer portion is offset, a handle having alongitudinal borev therethrough slidably receiving said inner portion ofsaid bar, said handle having a cavity therein communicating with saidbore at one end thereof for receiving said bristles, said cavity beingoffset laterally from said bore and being of a size correspondingclosely to the original bulk of said bristles, said bar having a keywaytherein extending longitudinally along the side of said baropposite fromsaid bristles, a generally semi-circular groove extending substantiallyhalf way around said inner portion of said bar and communicating withone end, of saidv keyway, said groove being near the opposite end ofsaid bar from said bristles, said handle, having; a key; element thereonprojecting into said bore, at a point gencrralhl, opposite. from saidvcavity, said key element beingslidablyreceivable in said keyway and saidgroove, said bar being movable into and: out of said handle betweenextended and retracted positions, said bar beingv S11..bstantiallyfullyreceived within said. bore and said bristles beingclosely: receivedwithin said; cavity with said bar in said retracted position, saidhandle having bevels-fiaringfrom; said cavity at the entranceend thereoffor aligning said bristles with said cavity and: compressing saidbristlesfor easy-entrance into said cavity even if said bristles have:been spread by use, said key element being received in said keywayopposite saidbr-istles with said, bar retracted, a. first catchprojecting into said bore and; engageable with said groove for detainingsaidbar in said retractedtposition, said bar being: adapted to beextended by sliding said bar outwardly ofsaid bore; with said key"element. traveling along said keyway, said bar; beingadapted, to belocked in its ex:-

tended position; by rotating-said. bar through substantially one-halfrevolution with said keys'element traveling alongsaid groove to the; endthereof opposite from said keyway, and a second catch projecting, intosaid groove ads therefrom, said first handle memberhaving a recesstherein communicatinglaterallywith. saidbore: at oneend thereof for,receiving, said, bristles; one of said: members having a track thereiniwith. av first portion: extending longitudinally therealong :anda;second. portion extending circumferentially generally halfwaytherearound from one end of said first portion, thexother of:saidmembers having a follower element, slidably engaged with said track,said second handle member being movable longitudinally between aretracted, position withtsaid second member received withingsaid: boreand with saidifollower' engaged,withsaid; first portion of said track atthe-opp site. endthereof fronasaidi second portion of said track,

and a; preliminary extended; position with said second member movedoutwardly-of said firstmemberandwitlr saidfollower elernent-engagedwithsaidsecond portion of theiunction; of said firstwportion andsaidtrack, said sec-- ondhandle;memberthereupon being rotatable throughgenerally one-half turn to an extended and'lockedposition; with saidfollower, element traveling along: said second portion of,,said-vtrackgto; theremote end thereof 'rela;

tive, to; said. first: portionia; first" catch engageable with: aidsecon Pertinent; saidtrackion detaining said lsec ond member in itsretracted position, and a second catch projecting into said secondportion of said track adjacent said remote end thereof for detainingsaid follower element therein, said bristles extending laterally beyondand well clear of said first handle member with said second handlemember rotated into its extended and locked position.

3. In a retractable toothbrush, the combination comprising a hollowhandle having a longitudinal bore therein with the axis of said boreoffset from the axis of said handle, a bar slidably and rotatablyreceived in said bore and having a plurality of bristles projectinglaterally from the outer end of said bar, said handle having a recesstherein communicating with one end of said bore and extending laterallytherefrom for receiving said bristles, said bar having a groove thereinwith a longitudinal portion extending along said bar generally oppositefrom said bristles and a circumferential portion extending generallyhalf way around the inner end of said bar from the inner end of saidlongitudinal portion, a follower element on said handle projecting intosaid bore at a point generally oposite from said recess, said bar beingtelescopically movable into and out of said bore between extended andretracted positions, said follower element being engaged with saidlongitudinal portion of said groove with said bar retracted, saidfollower element being movable along said longitudinal portion of saidgroove during extension of said bar, said bar being rotatable in itsextended position through generally a half turn with said followerelement traveling along said circumferential portion of said groove tothe remote end thereof relative to said longitudinal portion, and meansfor detaining said follower element in said remote end of saidcircumferential portion of said groove to lock said bar in its extendedposition, said bristles extending laterally beyond and clear of saidhandle for convenient use with said bar locked in its extended position.

4. In a retractable toothbrush, the combination comprising a hollowhandle having a generally longitudinal bore therein, a bar slidably androtatably received in said bore and having a plurality of bristlesprojecting laterally from the outer end of said bar, said handle havinga recess therein communicating with said bore for receiving saidbristles, said bar having a groove therein with a longitudinal portionand a circumferential portion extending generally halfway around theinner end of said bar from the inner end of said longitudinal portion, afollower element on said handle projecting into said bore, said barbeing telescopically movable into and out of said bore between extendedand retracted positions, said follower element being engaged with theouter end of said longitudinal portion of said groove with said barretracted, said follower element being movable along said longitudinalportion to the inner end thereof during ex tension of said bar, said barbeing adapted to be locked in its extended position by rotating said barthrough generally a half turn with said follower element traveling alongsaid circumferential portion of said groove to the remote end thereofrelative to said longitudinal portion, said bristles extending laterallybeyond and clear of said handle for convenient use with said bar lockedin its extended position, said recess being ofi'set laterally from saidbore at the outer end of said handle, said recess being of a sizecorresponding closely to the original contour of said bristles, saidhandle having bevels flaring from said recess at the entrance endthereof for alignment of said bristles with said recess and compressingsaid bristles for easy entrance into said cavity even if said bristleshave been spread by use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS428,415 Riley May 20, 1890 1,134,459 Kalina Apr. 6, 1915 1,188,214 SohnJune 20, 1916 1,432,717 Miller Oct. 17, 1922 2,591,537 Gordon Apr. 1,1952 2,637,868 Hamilton May 12, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,024,908 FranceJan. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No, 2,883,692

April 28, 1959 Philip Kaye et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 69, strike out the junction of said first portion and"and insert the same before "said second portion" in line 68, samecolumn.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of August 1959.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Oflicer

